BX 



:> > ~» 

> > 

» »:> 

J> >^> 

> 

"> r- > 

> "3) O 
> 

> ) 

> > 

i » > 
:>• > 




5^ 






> > 

-> o »» ~^> > > 
) > » ^>> :>> 






9 "> 



> j> ;> -> j> > :> ^ 






5 > ) 3 



) > 



^x^^ 



* » o > )> : 
JO 2>J 



.^..^ ,^.-%. %.,■%.■ 





>» 


J 


* >» 


jp 




> 


J 


► >^E>> 


> 


; »- > , 


^J* 




if 


*> 


> 


•^^ 






-^ 




^3» 


>>> ^ 


v 








- >>> '3* 










>>» :» 




* 


■' 


""^ 


>>» ^j 


» 


> 


■j. 


3fe 


^>> 


> > 


> 


->^ 


"^ 


^> y» 


"^ 3 


> 


> 


]^ 


J5 >>> 


^ 3 


J> 


> 


^> 


>>^ 


> • 


> 


> 


^> 


> » 


3 


> 




.»• 


-»•»>• _j 


r > 


> 


> 


">[> 


> > > 


> •> 


> 


) V 


>> 


>> > > 


> ) 


> 


> 


> 


>' )> 


^ ) 


> 


> 


> 


:» >> > 


i 


> 


> 


» 


> >> 


> > 


> 


>>. 


> 


>> > > j 


> 


> 


y> 


» 


> >> 


> > 


> ^> 


)> 


» 


>^ » 


> > 


^ > 


>> 


>> 


^» > . 


^> -y 


> •; 


)> 


) ' 


> ^) 


) 




^ 


> ) 


> 


) 


j 




>> 


> )) 


> > 


S> ) 


J> : 


> > 


J> >> 


> 


? 


^ 35 


' 


^ >' 


> 


U 




.3 


► > i 


> 


> 


> 
> 


■ 
>71 


> > > 


> 
> 


j> 


> 


• jl> » :^>> ■•> 


> 







) J> >^ ^ > 



;■»> » 



^r^^ » > > 

I •> r> > 

>^~> » >^ > 

» » > J> 

i > . ■. » 

»"> •■> > > 

> > f> J > 

> o > 

> > > ' > 



) ) 






> > > 

> > > 



> > > 

» > 



> 



focwj^ m 


3»S>:>3> 


:o:-3t3SQ>-:- 


; :so»: 


,r^Sx»:> -^: 


ZJfc^DG>.0 a 


5 ^^^^ ° : - 


■WMflB^ ^BB 


It=>Siod> ■..•;■ ■-> 


3iOSi^>.3> 3 


> ■ ^X3Gfr . } .IT 


■> 373>3B> 7!" 


f y3'; ->3 


>3CKE>r 


£r3g& 3 ; 


" 33>3B>-: 


|^3>>3p\. 


£jQE>3 : .: 




:?\Ji££2/$ 


K"s ^> 


>7||pfe>;3 


i&^!m> 3,7 


J T^fe^ 


^4--^»3 .-, 


33feE>7G> > 


737> ~7»77>" "7. : 


■ ) _ "'75£fip ' ' 


S&^ifo ■>■ 


n^^ig 


> 77>- '7X>^>" 


- 7 ;7S5^fe". 


f)- 7D3>33 - 


''•JQg£> 


3)3 I*J>" 3> 


J ^^Sl 


i-^z&^y y 


: 3»XL> 


.>■■» zxa>:: : 37- 


r:7 353P 


i-^^^3 ~> 


3. jfe> 


r>3 -3377» >> . 


j> . ■ 37l3k> 


|>0 3»35l> 37 


':; 75i2*7>7> " . 


J^-. ^XO>: 77 


3> 33EJfc - 


Lo5^>^ 


37 3p>|>> 


¥P ■^ > ^ 


> "3> 3S* 


f, S^72»3> 5 

P>d63&> 7 


o = ^3lll|> % 


TO -.-3KS- :-'Jn i 


3; ^?a3*> -:■- 
7 3j^» ; 


\-^>"> 5> 


\- losses* 7 


3D :: »-3>o 7>3>.- 


-> ■■-■ av^T- - - 


5 7^t>>^>^ ■ V 


7 7^?|p£> 7> 


3>3> ,-33>2> -.-..' ">•). ^ 


> ^:55» 


>omp>>--;> 


7 ■■" JMSS5 




:, 7> 7^> -• 


b-o^P^ 


^ ,3re>- 


J33 33> 77 


> 3^72> 


§ v5^7>>7>3> 7 


'O ■ ^E2Z>S£> - 


3 3>^> ' 3>I>:.';0 -•■:" 


^ O -75> : 


h ,V> vr> > 


-33 ^3TC> " 


> 33*. 35>r s » 


oO 773> 


6^3333} J 


' 3 *3Kly 


3 j>3 1» >3 


.7 3 ^i3>. 


tx;>32» ^ 


3 3^, 


3 3>3» 3>3; 3) 


»J ^1» 


■>3^773- 3' 


- 3 ." 3M> ; 
773> 'EB> 


3> "7>7> 




_ .o ■ > 2uS5> :. 


3- 53 


K3rf.33 


■ ~^ N r ^ "^77- 


3> -J^* 3 : 


3 7> 7*£S§>' 


:> 2j>3> 


3 7 3 7, 


"3 > 77>."7 


;3^28» ^ 


" 3 : 3PS> ■ 


3 - 23G 


ll) : ^> 3 


' 3>- ) 33 . 


- J> 3?3J . 


> 73t> >rj> 




j337^373 3. 


.3 - 7»*' 32 


r 7|gr>->.3-3>7>3> 


3 "■"> ;7^ /7 






33^ >>73) 

> ;> 33K 
J))) 



mxm 



S3>-d: 



X7>7>3- 7> :; 37733> 



i3>3?- 


3D33:3 


3^^: 


7»3>7: 


)377>7D 73 


37I»77 


_IX>3> ." 


3D37^-3 


3,D£> 


373*> ; 


>^>3JLX) 37 


7 :777; 


>X3> :7 


>7>33fta7.77> ■-. 


'>W£> 


l?->3> -X3 


25Z3&"Z>^> S3 3 


> s?»o nz: 


3GO>'.3 


373»303: 


>777 : 


l^272> -3 


2&3KX3 : 73 


3^ 3> 7 


^732> ,7 


SOED r 3D. " 


7775' 7 


>33> : 




333>-. 
.3^3- 


WrWByi> 


)7>7]»3; 7>7>' 


J '77-3^ 


^^J-h^J^ -., 


Z>rf tW^i* _->^ y 


• _J J sy 


fe'i®?2> "5 


>)Z»>_:> ->> 


33»j© 31: 



«J7 



~^.i7a 
7>J^7i2^7> 



->a3»3 



^7^7^72> p 

^**73 7> ^>i2 

'--32>3?> ; 333X9»7>) 7>7> 

K3^32> =3d2>3P • -7 ■->:>; ■ 



7^:3>Z 



aeS>v.33'-7 
,.:-_ap> 3» 3: 

■^^^ ""373 



7>^> 

-7>^>^' 

7^S> 



77333 
^33J> 

> 7>7> ^ , 
7>3^> 

>^>.3C 



3->.JpK> 

> 3 :^^>^>3> 
73 3K»3>- 

>:3^PKSS>_7>3 ^ 
7^3»7e»3> 3> >• i 

3^^l^> 3>: ..*:>: : 

73>7a>i>3 7-" iaii'.j 









LETTER 



REV. SAMUEL C. THACHER, 



ASPERSIONS CONTAINED IN A LATE NUMBER OF THE PANQPLIST, 



ON THE MINISTERS OP BOSTON AND THE VICINITT. 



E. CHA 



WILLIAM K CHANNING, 
» » 

Minister of the Church of Christ in Federal Street, Bostoa. 



BOSTON : 

"Kl.NTEB AND PUBLISHED BY WELLS AND f.\UX. 

1815. 



V 



#0 6 



A LETTER, &c, 



MY FRIEND AND BROTHER, 

I have recollected with much satisfaction the conversa- 
tion, which we held the other .morning, on the subject of the 
late Review in the Panoplist for June, of a pamphlet, called 
*? American Unitarianism." I was not surprised, but I was 
highly gratified, by the spirit with which you spoke of that 
injurious publication. Grief rather than indignation marked 
your countenance, and you mourned, that men, who bear 
the sacred and pacifick name of Christian, could prove so 
insensible to the obligations of their profession. Our con- 
versation turned, as you recollect, on the falsehood of that 
Review ; on its motives ; and on the duties which are 
imposed on those ministers, whose good name and whose 
influence it was designed to destroy. 

After leaving you, my thoughts still dwelt on the subject ; 
and, painful as is the task, I have thought it my duty to 
exhibit to the publick the topicks which we discussed, as 
well as to add some reflections suggested by private medi- 
tation. 

I bring to the subject a feeling, which I cannot well 
express in words, but which you can easily understand. 
It is a feeling, as if I were degrading myself by noticing the 
false and injurious charges contained in this review. I feel 
as if I were admitting, that we need vindication, that our 



reputations want support, that our characters and lives d© 
not speak for themselves. My selfrespect too is wounded, 
by coming into contact with assailants, who not only deny 
us the name of Christians, but withhold from us the treat- 
ment of gentlemen. These feelings, united with my love 
of peace, would induce me to pass over the Review in 
silence, if it were limited within the sphere within which we 
are personally known. In this sphere, I trust, its bitter- 
ness, coarseness, and misrepresentations will work their 
own cure ; and that no other defence is required, but the 
tenour of our ministry and lives. But the work, in which 
this article is published, is industriously spread through the 
country, and through all classes of society. The asper- 
sions which it contains are also diffused, as widely as pos- 
sible, by conversation and even by newspapers. We owe 
then to ourselves, and what is more important to the cause 
of christian truth and charity, some remarks on the repre- 
sentations and spirit of the Review. You can easily con- 
ceive, how difficult it is to read again and again such a pub- 
lication without catching some portion of an unchristian 
spirit. I do indeed feel myself breathing an atmosphere to 
which I am not accustomed. But my earnest desire is to 
remember whose disciple I am, and to temper displeasure 
with meekness and forgiveness. 

The Panoplist Review, though extended over so many 
pages, may be compressed into a very narrow space. It 
asserts, 1. That the ministers of this town and its vicinity, 
and the great body of liberal christians are Unitarians in 
Mr. Belshanr s sense of the word : that is, they believe 
that Jesus Christ is a mere man, who when on earlh w;\s 
liable to errour and sin ; to whom we owe no gratitude for 
benefits which we are now receiving; and for whose future 
interposition we have no reason to. hope. 



2. The Review asserts, that these ministers and liberal 
christians are guilty of hypocritical concealment of their 
sentiments, and behave in a base, cowardly and hypocri- 
tical manner. 

3. Christians are called to come out and separate them- 
selves from these ministers and the liberal body of christians, 
and to withhold from them christian communion. 

I will consider these three heads in their order, and may 
then notice some other topicks introduced into the Review. 

The first assertion to be considered is, that the ministers 
of this town and vicinity, and the great body of liberal chris- 
tians are Unitarians, in Mr. Belsham's sense of that word ; 
and I wish every reader to look back and distinctly impress 
this sense on his memory. I am sensible that almost every 
liberal christian,^ who reads these pages, will regard this 
charge with a mixture of surprise and indignation, and will 
almost doubt the correctness of my statement of the Re- 
view. I therefore add the following extracts from the last 
number of the Panoplist, in which the Review is contained. 
(P. 267.) "We feel entirely warranted to say that the 
predominant religion of the liberal party is decidedly 
Unitarian, in Mr. Belsham's sense of the word." P. 254, 
" We shall feel ourselves warranted hereafter, to speak of 
the fact as certain, that Unitarianism, ,, meaning Mr. Bel- 
sham's, " is the predominant religion among the ministers and 
churches of Boston." P. 271, " The liberal party mutilate 
the New Testament, reject nearly all the fundamental doc- 
trines of the gospel, and degrade the Saviour to the condition 
of a fallible, peccable, and ignorant man." It is unnecessary 
to multiply extracts to show, that not only Boston, but its 
vicinity, is involved in the charge. In fact, the liberal 
party, in general, as you see, is ranged under the standard 
of Mr. Belsham. Now we both of us know this statement 

* See Note A. 



6 

io be false. This misrepresentation is founded chiefly on 
some letters written by the Rev. Dr. Freeman, and Mr. 
William Wells, of Boston, to the Rev. Mr. Lindsey and 
the Rev. Mr. Belsham, of London ; which letters state, 
that many of the ministers and laymen of this quarter are 
Unitarian. You informed me in our late coaversation, that 
Mr. Wells has assured you, that in his letter to Mr. Bel- 
sham, he used the word Unitarian in its proper and usual 
sense, as opposed to Trinitarian, as denoting a man who 
believes that God is one person, and not three persons. 
That Dr. Freeman attached the same meaning to the word, 
I cannot doubt, because I have once and again heard him 
give this very definition. If you will consult Miss Adams' 
View of Religions, the only authority which I have at hand, 
you will see, that this term belongs to persons, who differ 
widely in their views of Jesus Christ. She particularly 
quotes Mosheim, as saying, that Unitarians are Anti-Trini- 
tarians. "The Socinians," Mosheim adds, "are also so 
" called. The term is comprehensive, and is applicable to a 
"great variety of persons, who, notwithstanding, agree in 
" this common principle, that there is no distinction in the 
" Divine nature." The word Unitarian, taken in this its 
true sense, as including all who believe that there is no dis- 
tinction of persons in God, is indeed, as Mosheim observes, 
of great extent. Dr. Watts, in the latter part of his life, 
was decidedly an Unitarian. So was Dr. Samuel Clarke ; 
so was the late Dr. Eckley,* of this town ; so, I am told by 
respectable authorities, are several Hopkinsian clergymen 
in New-England. The word Unitarianism, as denoting 
this opposition to Trinitarianism, undoubtedly expresses 
the character of a considerable part of the ministers of this 
town and its vicinity, and the commonwealth. But we both 
of us know, that their Unitarianism is of a very different 

* See Note B. 



kind from that of Mr. Belsham. We both agreed in ou* 
late conference, that a majority of our brethren believe, that 
Jesus Christ is more than man, that he existed before the 
world, that he literally came from heaven to save our race, 
that he sustains other offices than those of a teacher and 
witness to the truth, and that he still acts for our benefit, and 
is our intercessor with the Father. This we agreed to be 
the prevalent sentiment of our brethren. There is another 
class of liberal christians, who, whilst they reject the dis- 
tinction of three persons in God, are yet unable to pass a 
definitive judgment on the various systems, which prevail, 
as to the nature and rank of Jesus Christ. They are met 
by difficulties on every side, and generally rest in the con- 
clusion, that He, whom God has appointed to be our Sa- 
viour, must be precisely adapted to his work, and that ac- 
ceptable faith consists in regarding and following him as 
our Lord, Teacher, and Saviour ; without deciding on hi* 
nature or rank in the universe. There is another class, who 
believe the simple humanity of Jesus Christ ; but these form 
a small proportion of the great body of Unitarians in this part 
of our country ; and I very much doubt, whether of these, 
one individual can be found, who could conscientiously sub- 
scribe to Mr. Belsham's creed as given in the Review. The 
conduct of the Reviewer, in collecting all the opinions of 
that gentleman, not only on the Trinity, but on every other 
theological subject, in giving to the whole collection the 
name of Unitarianism, and in exhibiting this to the world 
as the creed of liberal christians in this region, is perhaps 
as criminal an instance of unfairness, as is to be found in the 
records of theological controversy. The fact is, that the 
great body of l^eral christians would shrink from some of 
these opinions with as much aversion as from some of the 
gloomy doctrines of Calvin. You, my friend, well know, 
that Mr. Belsham is not acknowledged as a leader by any 
Unitarians in cur country. I have heard from those, who 



are thought to approach hiui most nearly in opinion, com- 
plaints of the extravagance of some of his positions, as unjust 
and prejudicial to the cause which he has undertaken to 
defend. 

I trust, that the statement which has now been made, will 
not be considered as casting the least reproach on those 
amongst us, who believe in the simple humanity of Jesus 
Christ. Whilst I differ from them in opinion, I have cer- 
tainly no disposition to deny them the name and privileges 
of christians. There are gentlemen of this class, whom I 
have the happiness to know, in whom I discover the evi- 
dences of a scrupulous uprightness, and a genuine piety ; 
and there are others, whose characters, as portrayed by 
their biographers, appear to me striking examples of the 
best influences of Christianity. 

After considering the letters of Mr. Wells and Dr. Free- 
man, it is not necessary to enlarge on the other evidences 
of our adopting Mr. Belsham's creed, which have been 
adduced by the Reviewer. The Monthly Anthology is 
summoned as a proof. I have read as little of that work as 
of most periodical publications; but you, who know*more of 
it, have expressed to me your confident persuasion, that, 
from beginning to end, the doctrine of the simple humanity 
of Christ is not once asserted. As to the General Reposi- 
tory, which is brought forward as another proof, I never 
for a moment imagined, that its editor was constituted or 
acknowledged as the organ of his brethren ; and while its high 
literary merit has been allowed, I have heard some of its sen- 
timents disapproved by the majority of those with whom I 
have conversed. With respect to the " Improved Version 
of the New Testament," Icanspeak with greater confidence. 
It is false, that this work was patronized £nd circulated by 
the ministers of Boston and the vicinity. It is impossible 
that such a fact could have escaped my notice, and I can 



scarcely remember an individual, who, in speaking of this 
version, has nol expressed an unfavourable opinion at least 
of some of its notes. 

I repeat it, these remarks are not offered for the purpose 
of throwing any reproach on any class of Christians, but 
simply to repel a statement which is untrue, and which is 
intended to rank us under a denomination, which the people 
of this country have been industriously taught to abhor. It 
is this intention of rendering us odious, which constitutes 
the criminality of the charge, and which exposes its author 
to severe indignation. A man, who is governed by christian 
principles, will slowly and reluctantly become " the accuser 
of his brethren." He will inquire long and impartially be- 
fore he attempts to fasten a bad name, (the most injurious 
method of assailing reputation) on an individual, and espe- 
cially on a large class of the community. What severity 
of reproof then is merited by the author of this Review, 
who has laboured to attach, not only to professors, but to 
ministers of religion, a name and character which he hoped 
would awaken popular alarm, and endanger their influence, 
although a large majority of the accused have no participa- 
tion in the pretended crime. That he intended to deceive,. 
I am unwilling to assert ; but the most charitable construc- 
tion which his conduct will admit is, that his passions and 
party spirit have criminally blinded him, and hurried him 
into an act, which could have been authorized only by the 
strongest evidence, and the most impartial inquiry. The 
time may come, when he will view this transaction with 
other eyes ; when the rage of party will have subsided ; 
when the obligation of a fair and equitable temper will 
appear at least as solemn as the obligation of building up a 
sect ; when misrepresentation, intended to injure, and ori- 
ginating, if not in malignity, yet in precipitancy and passion, 
will be felt to be a crime of no common aggravation. That 



10 

this time may soon come, and may bring with it not only 
remorse, but sincere repentance, I know to be your wish, 
and I trust it is my own. 

II. I now come to the second charge of the Review ; 
That the ministers of Boston and the vicinity, and the most 
considerable members of the liberal party "operate in 
" secret ; entrust only the initiated with their measures ; are 
" guilty of hypocritical concealment of their sentiments ; 
" behave in a base and hypocritical manner, compared with 
" which Mr. Belsham's conduct, rotten as he is in doctrine 
" to the very core, is purity itself."^ Such is the decent 
language scattered through this Review. This charge is 
infinitely more serious than the first. To believe with Mr. 
Relsham is no crime. But artifice, plotting, hypocrisy are 
crimes; and if we practise them, we deserve to be driven 
not only from the ministry, not only from the church, but 
from the society of the decent and respectable. Our own 
hearts, I trust, tell us at once how gross are these asper- 
sions ; and our acquaintance with our brethren authorizes 
us to speak in their vindication with the same confidence as 
in our own. 

* We are accused of " the systematick practice of artifice," p. 242 ; 
of " hypocritical concealment," 251; of " cowardice in the conceal- 
ment of our opinions," 260 ; of " cunning and dishonesty," 260 ; of 
" acting in a base, hypocritical manner," a manner " at which com- 
mon honesty revolts," 280 ; a manner " incompatible with fidelity or 
integrity," 261. "The conduct of Mr. Belsham," we are told, "rot- 
ten as he is to the very core in point of doctrine, is purity itself, com- 
pared with the conduct of these men," 262. " In pretence all is 
politeness and liberality ; in practice we hnd a rancour bitter as; 
death, and cruel as the grave," 264. Let it be remembered that this 
is not to be considered as the invective and exaggeration, which we are 
unhappily accustomed to permit in a political pamphlet. It is found 
in a grave theological publication, and uttered by a man who declares 
that he " never took his pen in hand with greater caution, nor with a 
raore imperious sense of duty." 259. 



11 

It is not to be wondered at, that those, who have charged 
us with holding sentiments which we reject, should proceed 
to charge us with hypocritically concealing our sentiments. 
Most of us have often contradicted Mr. Belsham's opinions : 
and they who insist that these opinions are ours, will be 
forced to maintain that we practise deceit. They start 
with a falsehood, and their conclusion cannot therefore be 
true. 

I am not, however, disposed to dismiss this charge of 
artifice and hypocrisy so lightly. The proofs on which it 
rests are perhaps the most extraordinary which were ever 
adduced on so serious an occasion. The first evidence of 
our baseness is a letter from Dr. Freeman. It is unneces- 
sary to enter into any examination of this letter. It is 
sufficient to observe, that it was written, according to the Re- 
view, in the year 1796 or 1797, that is, it was written when all 
the present congregational ministers in Boston, with the single 
exception of the venerated Dr. Lathrop, were receiving 
their education either at school or in college, and had not 
probably directed their thoughts towards the sacred office ; 
and before a considerable part of our brethren, now in the 
vicinity, were settled in the ministry. It is a melancholy 
thought, that accusations which would place us among the 
profligate part of society, are bitterly and furiously urged 
on such foundation as this ! 

But the next proof is still more remarkable. It is the 
letter of Mr. Wells to Mr. Belsham. In this letter Mr. 
Wells says, " Most of our Boston clergy and respectable 
" laymen, among whom we have many enlightened theolo- 
gians, are Unitarian. Nor do they think it at all neces- 
" sary to conceal their sentiments, but express them without 
" reserve when they judge it proper. I may safely say, 
" the general habit of thinking and speaking upon this 
"question is Unitarian." Can a more explicit passage be 



12 

conceived ? The method in which it is distorted by the 
Reviewer can hardly be recollected without expressions of 
indignation. Towards the close of his Review, p. 269, in 
speaking of the persons on whom Mr. Wells "lavishes 
commendation," he represents him as mentioning " most of 
the Boston clergy and respectable laymen, many of whom 
are enlightened theologians, who do not conceal their senti- 
ments, but express them when they judge it proper. 11 This 
passage, as it stands in the Review, has the marks of quo- 
tation, as if taken from Mr. Wells' letter. Let me ask you 
to look back, and compare it carefully with the second sen- 
tence, which I have extracted from that letter. You per- 
ceive, that by mutilating that sentence, and by printing the 
last words in Italicks, the reviewer has entirely done away 
the meaning of Mr. Wells, and contrived to give to the 
common reader a directly opposite impression to what that 
gentleman intended to convey. An unperverted mind turns 
with sorrow and disgust from such uncharitable and disin- 
genuous dealing ; and why all this labour to distort what is 
so plain 1 The object is, to fix the character of knaves and 
hypocrites on a large class of christians and christian min- 
isters. I might here be permitted to dip my pen in gall ; 
but I do not write for those, whose moral feeling is so dull, 
as to need indignant comment on practices like these. 

With respect to yourself, my friend, I presume no one 
will charge you with hypocritical concealment. Your situ- 
ation offers you no temptation ; and no one who has heard 
you preach, can ever have suspected you of a leaning 
towards Trinitarianism. As to myself, I have ever been 
inclined to cherish the most exalted views of Jesus Christ, 
which are consistent with the supremacy of the Father ; and 
I have felt it my duty to depart from Mr. Belsham, in 
perhaps every sentiment which is peculiar to him on this 
subject. I have always been pleased with some of the 
sentiments of Dr. Watts on the intimate and peculiar union 



13 

between the Father and the Son, But I have always ab- 
stained most scrupulously from' every expression which 
could be construed into an acknowledgment of the Trinity. 
My worship and sentiments have been Unitarian in the 
proper sense of that word. In conversation with my peo- 
ple, who have requested my opinion upon the subject, 
especially with those who consider themselves Trinitarians, 
I have spoken with directness and simplicity. Some of 
those who differ from me most widely, have received from 
me the most explicit assurances of my disbelief of the 
doctrine of .the Trinity, and of my views in relation to the 
Saviour. As to my brethren in general, never have I 
imagined for a moment, from their preaching or conversa- 
tion, that they had the least desire to be considered as 
Trinitarians ; nor have I ever heard from them any views 
of God or of Jesus Christ, but Unitarian in the proper 
meaning of that word. 

It is indeed true, as Mr. Wella says, that we seldom or 
never introduce the Trinitarian controversy into our pulpits. 
We are accustomed to speak of the Father as God, and of 
Jesus Christ as his son, as a distinct being from him, as 
dependent on him, subordinate to him, and deriving all from 
him. This phraseology pervades all our prayers, and all 
our preaching. We seldom or never, however, refer to 
any different sentiments, embraced by other christians, on 
the nature of God or of Jesus Christ. We preach pre- 
cisely as if no such doctrine as the Trinity had ever been 
known. We do not attempt to refute it, any more than to 
refute the systems of the Sabellians, the Eutychians, or the 
Nestorians, or of the other sects who have debated these 
questions with such hot and unprofitable zeal. But, in fol- 
lowing this course, we are not conscious of having con- 
tracted, in the least degree, the guilt of insincerity. We 
have aimed at making no false impression. We have only 
followed a general system, which we are persuaded to be 



or our people and for the cause of chiistianitv ; the 

ii of excluding controversy as much as possible from 
our pulpit-. In compliance with this system, I have never 

d Ti initarianism ; nor have I ever said one word 
against Methodism, Quakerism, Episcopalianism, or the 
denomination of Baptists; and I may add Popery, if 1 
cept a few occasional remarks on the intolerance of that 

]. The name of these sects, with that sinsle excep- 
tion, has never passed my lips in preaching, through my 
whole ministry, which has continued above twelve 
We all of us think it best to preach the truth, or what we 
esteem to be the truth, and to say very little about errour, 
unless it be errour of a strictly practical nature. A striking 
proof of our sentiments and habits on this subject may be 
derived from the manner in which you and myself have 
Ivinism. We consider the errours which relate 
to Christ's person as of little or no importance compared 
with the errour of those who teach, that God brings us into 

holly depraved and wholly helpless, that he leaves 
multitudes without that aid which i? indispensably necessary 
to their repentance, and then plunges them into ever! 
burnings and unspeakable torture, for not repenting. This 
we consider as one of the most injurious errours which ever 
darkened the christian world; and none will pretend that we 
have any thin; to fear from exposing this errour to our people. 
Onthe contrary, we could hardly selecl a more populartopick ; 
— and yet our hearers will bear witness how seldom we intro- 
duce this topick into our preaching. The name o; I 
has never, I presume, been uttered by us in the pulpit. Our 
method is, to state what we conceive to be more honourable, 
and ennobling, and encouraging views of God's character 
^vernment, and to leave these to have their effect, 
without holdinz up other christians to censure or contempt. 
We could, if we were to make strenuous efforts, render the 



15 

name of Calvinist as much a word of reproach in our so- 
cieties, as that of Unitarian is in some parts of our country. 
But we esteem it a solemn duty to disarm instead of exci- 
ting the bad passions of our people. We wish to promote 
among them a spirit of universal charity. We wish to 
make them condemn their own bad practices, rather than 
the erroneous speculations of their neighbour. We love 
them too sincerely to imbue them with the spirit of contro- 
versy. 

In thus avoiding controversy, we have thought that we 
deserved, not reproach, but some degree of praise for our 
self denial. Every preacher knows how much easier it is 
to write a controversial than a practical discourse ; how 
much easier it is to interest an audience by attacking an op- 
posite party, than by stating to them the duties and motives 
of the gospel. We often feel, that our mode of preaching 
exposes us to the danger of being trite and dull ; and I 
presume we have often been tempted to gratify the love of 
disputation which lurks in every society. But so deeply 
are we convinced, that the great end of preaching is to pro- 
mote a spirit of love, a sober, righteous and godly life, and 
that every doctrine is to be urged simply and exclusively 
for this end, that we have sacrificed our ease, and have 
chosen to be less striking preachers, rather than to enter 
the lists of controversy. 

We have seldom or never assailed the scheme of the 
Trinity, not only from our dislike to controversy in general, 
but from a persuasion that this discussion would, above all 
others, perplex and needlessly perplex a common congre- 
gation, consisting of persons of all ages, capacities, degrees 
of improvement, and conditions in society. This doctrine 
we all regard as the most unintelligible about which chris- 
tians have ever disputed. If it do not mean that there are 
Three Gods, (a construction which its advocates indignant- 



16 

\j repel,) we know not what it means ; and we have not 
thought that we should edify common hearers by attacking 
a doctrine, altogether inconceivable and wholly beyond the 
grasp of our faculties. — We have recollected too the mis- 
chiefs of the Trinitarian controversy in past ases, that it 
has been a firebrand lighting the flames of persecution, 
and kindling infernal passions in the breasts of christians ; 
and we have felt no disposition to interest the feelings of 
our congregation in a dispute, which has so disgraced the 
professed disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus. — Many of 
us have been disinclined, not only to assail systems which 
we do not believe, but even to enforce the views which we 
have given of the rank and character of Jesus Christ ; be- 
cause we have known, how divided the best men have been 
on these topicks, and how largely we ourselves partake of the 
fallibility of our nature; because we have wished, that our 
hearers should derive their impressions on these points as 
much as possible from the scriptures ; and because we have 
all been persuaded, that precision of views upon these sub- 
jects is in no degree essential to the faith or practice of a 
christian. — We have considered the introduction of the 
Trinitarian controversy into the pulpit, as the less necessa- 
ry, because we have generally found that common christian! 
admit that distinction between God and his Won, and that sub- 
ordination of the Son, which we believe to be the truth ; and 
as to that very small part of our hearers, who are strongly 
attached to the doctrine of the Trinity, while we have not 
wished to conceal from them our difference of opinion, we 
have been fully satisfied, that the most effectual method of 
promoting their holiness and salvation was 1o urge on them 
perpetually those sreat truths and precepts, about which 
there fc little contention, and which have an immediate 
bearing on the temper and the life. — To conclude, we have 
sever entered into discussions of the doctrine of the Tri- 



17 

aity, because we are not governed by a proselyting temper. 
I will venture to assert, that there is not on earth a body of 
men who possess less of the spirit of proselytism, than the 
ministers of this town and vicinity. Accustomed as we are 
to see genuine piety in all classes of christians, in Trinita- 
rians and Unitarians, in Calvinists and Arminians, in Epis- 
copalians, Methodists, Baptists, and Congregationalists, and 
delighting in this character wherever it appears, we are little 
anxious to bring men over to our peculiar opinions. I could 
smile at the idea of a Unitarian plot, were not this fiction 
intended to answer so unworthy an end. There cannot be 
a doubt, that bad we seriously united for the purpose of 
spreading Unitarianism by any and every means, by secret 
insinuations against those who differ from us, by uncharita- 
ble denunciations, and by the other usual arts of sects, we 
might have produced in this part of the country an Unita- 
rian heat and bitterness not inferiour to that with which 
Trinitarianism is too often advocated. But not the slight- 
est whisper of any concert for this end has ever reached 
me ; and as to these arts, our people can best say how far 
we have practised them. Our people will testify, how lit- 
tle we have sought to influence them on the topicks of dis- 
pute among christians, how little we have laboured to make 
them partisans, how constantly we have besought them to 
look with candour on other denominations, and to delight in 
all the marks which others exhibit of piety, and goodness. 
Our great and constant object has been to promote the 
spirit, of Christ, and we have been persuaded, that in this 
way we should most effectually promote the interests of 
christian truth. 

These remarks will shew, how entirely unfounded are the 
charges, which are adduced against us, of insincerity and 
base hypocrisy. And are we not authorized, my brother, 
to repel these charges with some degree of warmth ? Are 

3 



we not called to speak in the language of indignant and in*- 
suited virtue, as well as of pity and sorrow, in relation (o the 
man, who is propagating these unmerited reproaches ? AVe 
are christians by profession, and ministers of the Gospel, 
governed, as we humbly hope, by the principles of Jesus 
Christ. We honour his name ; we remember his dying 
love with gratitude ; and I hope we are ready to meet the 
loss of all things in his service ; and yet we are represented 
to our people as unprincipled men, wearing a mask, and 
practising the basest arts. And we are thus loaded with 
invective and abuse, that we may be robbed of that influ- 
ence, which, if we know ourselves, we wish to exert for the 
honour of God, and the salvation of mankind ; that we may 
be robbed of the confidence and affection of our societies, 
and may be forsaken by them as unworthy the christian 
name. Need I ask, whether this be a light injury or an 
ordinary crime ? 

On the present occasion, when our moral character 
is impeached, we are justified, I think, in an appeal to 
our respective societies ; and I trust, my friend, that we 
and our accused brethren can say with confidence to those 
to whom we minister, " Brethren, you know us, for we 
live among you ; we visit you in your families, we speak io 
you from the pulpit; we repair to you in your sorrows, and 
we sit too at the table of your festivity. You know some- 
thing of our conduct in our families, and in the common 
relations of life. We are, indeed sensible, that in all these 
situations, we have exhibited to you much of human imper- 
fection, and our frequent prayer to God is, that he will for- 
give our deficiences. But, brethren, we ask you to recol- 
lect our general deportment and ministrations. Have we 
seemed to you men of artifice and deceit, men without rev- 
erence for truth, and without the fear of God, men of sordid 
and selfish views, seeking your wealth or applause, and 
careless of your souls ? Have we ever seemed to you to be 



IS 

labouring to build up a cause, or to establish a party, which 
we were ashamed to acknowledge ? Have we ever directed 
you to any foundation of hope or guide of life, but the Gos- 
pel of Christ ? Have we not continually exhorted you, as a 
father doth his children, that you would walk worthy of this 
religion from heaven ? In your affliction have we not sup- 
plied you with the consolations which it offers ? and in the 
more dangerous seasons of enjoyment, have we not discov- 
ered the purity and moderation which it inculcates ? To 
what work of christian usefulness have you found us reluc- 
tant ? In what relation of life have you found us unfaithful ? 
On what occasion have we discovered, that our profession 
is a cloak of hypocrisy 1 It is not our design, by these 
questions, to advance our own glory ; God forbid it : But 
we wish to impress you deeply with the criminality of those 
aspersions, which are cast habitually on your teachers ; and 
with the urgent necessity of discouraging that unrelenting 
party spirit, which has no respect for innocence or virtue, 
and which threatens to overwhelm our churches with dis- 
cord and contention." 

III. I now come to the third head of the Review, which 
I propose to consider. The Reviewer, having charged us 
with holding the opinions of Mr. Belsham, and hypocritical- 
ly concealing them, solemnly calls on christians who differ 
from us in sentiment, " to come out and be separate from 
us, and to withhold communion with us ;" and a paragraph 
of the bitterest contempt and insult is directed against those 
ministers who,whilst they disagree on the controverted pointi 
of theology, are yet disposed to love and treat us as brethren. 
This language does not astonish me, when I recollect the 
cry of heresy which has been so loudly raised against thi§ 
part of the country. But I believe that this is the first in- 
stance, in which christians have been deliberately called to 
deny us the christian name and privileges. As such Ut it 



20 

be remembered ; and let the consequences of it lie on its 
authors. 

Why is it that our brethren are thus instigated to cut us 
off, as far as they have power, from the body and church of 
Christ ? Let every christian weigh well the answer. It is 
not because we refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as our 
Lord and Master; it is not because we neglect to study his 
word ; it is not, because our lives are wanting in the spirit 
and virtues of his gospel. It is, because after serious in- 
vestigation, we cannot find in the Scriptures, and cannot 
adopt as instructions of our Master, certain doctrines, which 
have divided the church for ages, which have perplexed 
the best and wisest men, and which are very differently 
conceived even by those who profess to receive them. It 
is, in particular, because we cannot adopt the language of 
our brethren, in relation to a doctrine, which we cannot un- 
derstand, and which is expressed in words not only unau- 
thorized by the Scripture, but as we believe, in words em- 
ployed without meaning, (unless they mean that there are 
three Gods,) by those who insist upon them. This is our 
crime, that we cannot think and speak with our brethren on 
subjects the most difficult and perplexing, on which the hu- 
man mind was ever engaged. For this we are pursued with 
the cry of heresy, and are to have no rest until virtually ex- 
communicated by our brethren. 

Were the christian world more enlightened on the 
nature of heresy, they would not be so much alarmed 
when they hear it attached to their brethren. Most 
earnestly do I wish that the Dissertation of Dr. Camp- 
bell on Heresy, in his " Translation of the Four Gos- 
pels," were more generally read and considered. He 
has proved, I think, very satisfactorily, that heresy, as the 
word is used in the Scriptures, does not consist in the adop- 
tion or profession of wrong opinions, but in a spirit of divi- 
sion, of dissension, of party, in a factious and hirbuleht 



21 

temper ; and that the heretick is not a man who entertains 
erroneous or even injurious sentiments, but one who loves 
to be called Rabbi and master ; who has a disposition to 
separate christians, to create or to extend sects and parties. 
The conclusion of the Dissertation of this most judicious 
writer on Heresy, deserves to be imprinted on every mind 
in these days of dissension. " No person, who, in the spirit 
" of candour and charity, adheres to that which to the best 
"of his judgment is right, though in this opinion he should 
" be mistaken, is in the scriptural sense either schismatick 
" or heretick ; and he, on the contrary, whatever sect he 
" belongs to, is more entitled to these odious appellations, 
" who is most apt to throw the imputation upon others. 
" Both terms, (for they denote only different degrees of 
" the same bad quality,) always indicate a disposition and 
" practice unfriendly to peace and harmony and love."* 
If these views be correct, there is no difficulty in deciding, 
to what persons among us the name of heretick most justly 
belongs ; and we shall be forced to conclude, that of all pub- 
lications which have issued from our press, no one is more 
tinctured with the spirit of heresy, than the Review, which 
it is my painful office to examine. 

Most earnestly do I hope that christians will weigh well 
the nature and guilt of schism, the consequences of separa- 
tion, and the spirit of their religion, before they adopt the 
measure recommended in this Review. For myself, the 
universe would not tempt me to bear a part in this work of 
dividing Christ's church, and of denouncing his followers. 
If there be an act which, above all others, is a transgression 
of the christian law, it is this. What is the language of our 
Master ? " A new commandment I give unto you, that 
ye love one another. By this shall all men know, that 
ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." 

* Campbell's Gospels, Vol. II. p. 141, Boston edition. 



m 

u Bear ye one another's burdens," says St. Paul, "and so ful- 
fil the law of Christ" But what says this Review ? " Cast 
out your brethren, and treat them as heathens. " I know it 
will be said, that christians are not called upon to reject real 
christians, but hereticks and false pretenders to the name. 
But heresy, we have seen, is not a false opinion, but a sec- 
tarian spirit ; and as to false pretences, we desire those 
who know us, to put their hands on their hearts, and to say, 
whether they can for a moment believe that we hypocritical- 
ly profess to follow the instructions of Jesus Christ ? Does 
charity discover nothing in our language and lives to justify 
the hope that we are united to Jesus Christ by love for his 
character, and by participation of his spirit ? Most earnest- 
ly would I advise those persons who are inclined to follow 
the instigations of this Review, to think seriously before 
they act ; to remember, that Jesus Christ has solemnly for- 
bidden uncharitable judgment, that he regards the injuries 
which are done to his followers, through a censorious spirit, 
as done to himself, and that christians cannot more surely 
forsake their Lord, the Prince of peace, than by following 
an inciter to denunciation and division. 

I wish that my motives for these earnest remonstrances 
against division may be understood. I feel as little person- 
al interest in the subject as any individual in the community. 
Were the proposed separation to take place, I should still 
enjoy the ordinances of the gospel in the society of those 
whom I best love. The excommunication which is threat- 
ened gives me no alarm. I hear this angry thunder mur- 
mur at a distance, with as little concern as if it were the thun- 
der of the pope, from whom it seems indeed to be borrowed. 
But whilst I fear nothing for myself, I do fear and feel for 
that body of which Christ is the head, which has been 
bleeding for ages under the contests of christians, and which 
is now threatened with a new wound. I feel for the cause 



*3 

of our common Christianity, which I am set to defend, and 
which has suffered inconceivably more from the bad pas- 
sions and divisions of its friends, than from all the arts and 
violence of its foes. I cannot but look forward with pain to 
the irritations, hatreds, bitter recriminations, censoriousness, 
spiritual pride, and schismatical spirit which will grow up 
under this system of denunciation and exclusion, and which 
may not only convulse many churches at the present mo- 
ment, but will probably end in most unhappy divisions 
among the very christians who denounce us : who seem 
indeed to be united, now that a common enemy is to be 
trodden under foot, but who have sufficient diversities of 
opinion, to awaken against each other all the fury of into- 
lerance, when this shall have become the temper and habit 
of their minds. I repeat it, I have no interest in this 
point, but as a christian ; and as such, I look with a degree 
of horrour on this attempt to inflame and distract our church- 
es. Errour of opinion is an evil too trifling to be named in 
comparison with this practical departure from the Gospel, 
with this proud, censorious, overbearing temper, which says 
to a large body of christians, " stand off, we are holier than 
you/' 

Before I leave this question of separation, let me just ob- 
serve, that by this Review, not only we and our brethren 
are cut off from the body of Christ ; but the most venera- 
ble men who have left us, and who, when living, were es- 
teemed ornaments of the church, such men as the late 
President Willard, Dr. Howard, Dr. Eckley, Dr. Eliot, 
and Dr. Barnard, are declared unworthy of the communion 
of the church on earth, and of course unfit for the fellowship 
of saints in heaven. It would be easy to show, that the 
same dreadful sentence is past on. some of the most exem- 
plary men in civil life, to whom this commonwealth is 
indebted for the stability of its civil and religious iastitu- 



24 

tions.* These all having lived, as they thought, in the 
faith of Christ, and having died with a hope in his precious 
pre mises, are now cut off from his church, and denied hii 
name. What christian does not shudder at this awful te- 
merity in a frail and erring fellow-being, who thus presumes 
to sit in judgment on men, who in purity and sincerity and 
devotion to God, were certainly not inferiour to himself ? 
stop here, for I wish not to indulge in language of severity ; 
and this subject, if any, may be left to speak for itself to the 
heart of the christian. 

Having thus considered the three principal heads in the 
Review, I now proceed, as I proposed, to offer a few words 
of friendly admonition, as to the temper and conduct which 
become our brethren and ourselves, under the injuries which 
we receive. The first suggestion you have undoubtedly 
anticipated. It is, that we remember the great duty 
which belongs to us as christians, of regarding our enemies 
with good will, if possible with a degree of approbation, at 
least with displeasure tempered with compassion. We 
profess to accord with that apostle, who has taught us that 
charity is greater than faith and hope, more excellent than 
the tongue of angels and the understanding of all mysteries. 
Let us prove our sincerity by our deeds. Let us cheerful- 
ly avail ourselves of every circumstance, which will justify 
the belief, that the cruel and bitter remarks of our adversa- 
ries proceed not from a wanton and unblushing contempt of 
truth, but from deep rooted prejudices, false views of reli- 
gion, unsuspected biasses to censoriousness, and a disor- 

* Were it an object to enumerate all who are involved in this sweep- 
ing sentence of condemnation, I might mention Locke, Newton, Gro- 
tius, Dr. .Samuel Clarke, Lardner, Price, Paley, and other names most 
conspicuous among the friends of science and religion. All these were 
decided Unitarians ; and can any imagine that Christianity is to be 
promoted by driving these meu from the christian church ? 



25 

dered imagination ; and whilst we lament that they do not 
partake more largely of the best influences of the gospel, 
let us be induced to hope that their profession of the gos- 
pel is sincere, and that their departure from its spirit is un- 
known to themselves. As to the great mass of those chris- 
tians, who view us with so much jealousy, we must remem- 
ber, that they know us only by report, that they believe as 
they are taught by men to whom they ascribe an eminent 
sanctity, and that they are liable to be carried away on this, 
as on every other subject, by loud assertion, and by ad- 
dresses to their fears. Accustomed as they are to hear us 
branded with names and epithets, to which they have at- 
tached no definite ideas, but which seem to them to express 
every thing depraved, can we wonder that they shrink from 
us with a kind of terrour 1 Towards this great class^of our 
opposers, we certainly owe nothing but kindness ; and we 
should esteem it an unspeakable happiness, that we can look 
with so much pleasure and hope on those by whom we are 
dreaded and shunned ; that we are not obliged by our sys- 
tem to regard our adversaries as the enemies of God, and 
the objects of his wrath. On this point, above all others, 
I would be urgent. Our danger is, that reproach will hurry 
us into language or conduct unbecoming the spirit of our 
master. Let us remember that our opposers cannot ulti- 
mately injure us, unless we permit them to awaken bad pas- 
sions, and to impair our virtues. Let us remember what is 
due from us to our religion. The more that our age is un- 
charitable, the more that the glory of the gospel is obscured 
by its being exhibited as a source of censoriousness and 
contention, the more we owe it to our Lord to wipe off this 
reproach from his truth, to shew the loveliness of his reli- 
gion, to show its power in changing the heart into the image 
of divine forbearance and forgiveness. Is the gospel at 
this moment receiving deep wounds in the house of its 
4 



26 

friends ? Let us guard with new jealousy its interests and 
honour. 

The second suggestion I would offer, is this. Whilst we 
disapprove and lament the unchristian spirit of some of our 
opposers, and the efforts which are used to make us odious, 
let us yet acknowledge that there is kindness in that 
Providence, which permits this trial to befall us. We es- 
teem it indeed a hardship to be numbered by our brethren 
among the enemies of that Saviour whom we love. But 
let us remember, that we as well as others need affliction : 
and it is my persuasion and hope that God intends by this 
dispensation to purify our characters and extend our useful- 
ness. The singular prosperity which we have enjoyed, 
has undoubtedly exposed us to peculiar temptations. Per- 
haps in no part of the world is the condition of ministers 
more favoured than ours. W'hilst we receive nothing of a 
superstitious homage or a blind submission, we find our- 
selves respected by all classes of society, and, may I not 
say, distinguished by the eminent, the enlightened and the 
good ? We are received with a kind of domestick affection 
into the families of our parishioners. Our sufferings call 
forth their sympathy, and in sickness we enjoy every aid 
which tenderness and liberality can bestow. Our minis- 
trations are attended with a seriousness, which, however 
due to the truth which we deliver, we often feel to be poor- 
ly deserved, by the imperfect manner in which it is dis- 
pensed. In our societies there are no divisions, no jealous- 
ies, no parties to disturb us. Whilst for these singular 
blessings, we should give thanks to the Author of all good, 
we should remember, that human virtue is often unable to 
sustain uninterrupted prosperity ; that a condition so fa- 
voured tends to awaken pride and self-indulgence ; and that 
God, who knows us better than we know ourselves, may see 
that we need reproach and opposition' to make us better 



27 

men and better ministers. I can certainly say for myself, 
that the spirit of denunciation in our country, has led me to 
a more serious and habitual study of the scriptures, and to 
a deeper feeling of my responsibility, than I should have 
attained in a more peaceful condition. Let us then resign 
ourselves to God, who in infinite wisdom sees fit to expose 
us to the scourge of evil tongues. Let this trial awaken us 
to new watchfulness, devotion, and fidelity ; and we may 
trust that it will be overruled to the extension of our useful- 
ness, and to the promotion of pure and undefiled religion. 

A third, and a very important suggestion is this : Let us 
holdfast our uprightness. I have said, that the opposition 
to which we are exposed has its advantages ; but whilst it 
preserves us from the temptation of prosperity, it brings 
some temptation of its own, which we cannot too steadfastly 
resist. It will try our integrity. That our churches are 
to be generally shaken by the assault which is made upon 
them, I am far from believing. But some may suffer. It 
is not impossible, that the efforts which are now employed 
to direct against us the uncharitableness and mistaken zeal 
of the country, and to spread disaffection through the most 
uninstructed and the most easily excited classes of society, 
may produce some effect. We know the fluctuations of 
4he human mind. We know that the sincerest christians 
are often unduly influenced by timidity, and may be brought 
to suspect a minister, when he is decried as a heretick, who 
is leading souls to hell. It requires more strength of 
nerves and more independence of mind than all good people 
possess, to withstand this incessant clamour. A storm then 
may be gathering over some of us, and the sufferers may 
be tempted to bend to it. But God forbid, my friend, that 
any of us should give support to the aspersions cast on our 
uprightness, &y ever suppressing our convictions, or speak- 
ing a* language foreign to our hearts. Through good report 



38 

and through eviT report, let us with simplicity and sincerity 
declare what we believe to be the will of God and the way 
to Heaven, and thus secure to ourselves that peace of con- 
science which is infinitely better than the smiles of the 
world. Let us never forget, that the most honoured condi- 
tion on earth is that of being sufferers for the sake of right- 
eousness, for adherence to what we deem the causse of God 
and holiness, and let us welcome suffering, if it shall be 
appointed us, as bringing us nearer to our persecuted Lord, 
and his injured apostles. 3Jy brother, we profess to count 
man's judgment as a light thing, to esteem this world and 
all which it offers to be vanity. We profess to look up to a 
heavenly inheritance, and to hope that we shall one day 
mingle with angels and just men made perfect. And with 
these sublime hopes, shall we tremble before frail and falli- 
ble fellow creatures, be depressed by difficulties, or shrink 
from the expression of what we deem important and useful 
truth? God forbid. 

I have time to add but one more suggestion. Let us be- 
ware lest opposition and reproach lead any of us into a sec- 
tarian attachment to our peculiar opinions. This is a dan- 
ger to which persons of ardent and irritable temper are pe- 
culiarly exposed. Too many of us are apt to cling to a 
system in proportion as it is assailed, to consider ourselves 
pledged to doctrines which we have openly espoused, m 
rally round them as if our own honour and interest were at ' 
stake, and to assert them with more and more positiveness, 
as if we were incapable of errour. This is the infirmity of 
our frail nature ; and whilst we condemn it in others, let us 
not allow it in ourselves. Let us be what we profess to be, 
patient inquirers after truth, open to conviction, willing to 
listen to objections, willing to renounce errour, willing to 
believe that we as well as others may have been warped in 
i.-uv opinion*, by education and situation, and that others 



29 

may have acquired important truths which, through weak- 
ness or prejudice, we may have overlooked. Were we a 
party, anxious to make proselytes, we should do well to be 
positive and overbearing. But we profess to be anxious 
that ouf fellow christians should inquire for themselves into 
the difficulties of religion, instead of implicitly receiving 
what we have embraced. We profess to believe, that can- 
did and impartial research will guide mankind to a purer 
system of Christianity, than is now to be found in anv church 
or country under Heaven. Most earnestly do I Jiope that 
we shall not be betrayed by any violence of assault into a 
sectarian heat and obstinacy, which will discredit our pro- 
fession, and obstruct this glorious reformation of the church 
of God. 

I have thus, my brother, considered the charges, by 
which we and our brethren have been assailed, and have 
endeavoured to recommend the temper with which we 
should meet reproach and insult. I intended to offer a few 
remarks on some other topicks introduced into the Review : 
but this letter is already extended far beyond the limits 
which I originally prescribed. I cannot, however, pass 
over in silence the charges against Harvard University, 
that venerable institution, which so many excellent men in 
this commonwealth are accustomed to regard with filial affec- 
tion and honour, and to which we are all so much indebted 
for the light of knowledge, and for whatever capacities of 
usefulness to society we may possess. The statement of 
the Reviewer, that the propagation of Unitarianism in that 
University is the object of regular and well concerted exer- 
tion, is altogether false. I am persuaded that such a plan 
never entered the thoughts of those to whom the department 
of theological instruction is entrusted. The books in which 
the classes are taught, were selected for the very purpose 
of avoiding, as far as possible, the controversies of theolo- 



30 

£iaus, and" the communication of any peculiarities of opin- 
ion to the students. They are, " Grotius on the Truth 
of the Christian Religion," " Paley's Evidences," "But- 
ler's Analogy," and " Griesbach's New Testament." 
The charge of the Reviewer, that the students, instructed as 
they Sre in these works, by a professor of exemplary puri- 
ty and uprightness, are yet taught to deny Jesus Christ. 
I trust, excite the indignation and abhorrence of every 
unperverted mind. 

Had I time, I should feel it my duty to offer some re- 
marks on the general style of the publication which I am 
called to examine. It not only abounds in misrepresenta- 
tion, and breathes an unchristian spirit, but it is written in a 
style which tends to deprave the taste and manners of the 
community. It is suited to give a coarse and vulgar charac- 
ter to the conversation and deportment of those christians 
whom it may influence. It abounds in sneer and insult, and 
bears the marks of a writer better fitted to fill the pages of an 
inflammatory newspaper, than to be the guide of the mild and 
benevolent disciples of Jesus Christ. I trust, however, 
that its style and spirit will do much to counteract its perni- 
cious tendency. I have too much respect for this people 
to believe that wanton assaults on the moral character of 
ministers and private christians will be encouraged and ap- 
proved. I even hope that good will in many cases result 
from this publication. I trust, that those christians who 
have been partially misled by the denouncing spirit of the 
11 now pause and consider; that all christians, of 
whatever name, who have any delicacy and tenderness of 
urn the true character of that unhallowed zeal 
w liich is seeking to divide our churches ; and that in this 
•riant aid will be given to the cause of peace 
iiiiJ charitj God, whose glory it is to bring good 

from ith of man to piaise him." 



31 

I think it proper, in conclusion, to observe that I shall 
not feel myself bound to notice any replies which may be 
made to this letter, especially if they appear in the Pano- 
plist. I consider that work as having forfeited all claim on 
the confidence of candid, upright, and honourable men. If 
any remarks on this letter shall appear, written with the 
spirit of a christian, or in the style of a gentleman, I shall 
read them with care, and I hope with impartiality ; and I 
shall readily retract any of my opinions or statements which 
I shall see to be erroneous, if they shall be thought suffi- 
ciently important to demand publick acknowledgment. 

I now commit this humble effort to promote the peace 
and union of the church, and the cause of truth and free 
inquiry, to the blessing of Almighty God. That in wri- 
ting it, I have escaped every unchristian feeling, I dare not 
hope ; and for every departure from the spirit of his gos- 
pel, I implore his forgiveness. If I have fallen into errour, 
I beseech him to discover it to my own mind, and to pre- 
vent its influence on the minds of others. It is an unspeak- 
able consolation that we and our labours are in his hand, 
and that the cause of the gospel is his peculiar care. That 
he may honour us as the instruments of extending the 
knowledge and the spirit of the gospel, is the earnest prayer 
of your friend and brother in Christ, 

W. E, CHANNING- 

Boston, June 20, 1815. 



XOTES. 



Note A, page 5. 

I have used the phrase or denomination Liberal Christians, 
because it is employed by the Reviewer to distinguish those whom 
he assails. I have never been inclined to claim this appellation 
for myself or my friends, because as the word liberality expresses 
the noblest qualities of the human mind, freedom from local 
prejudices and narrow feelings, the enlargement of the views and 
affections, — I have thought that the assumption of it would 
savour of that spirit, which has attempted to limit the words 
orthodox and evangelical to a particular body of christians. As 
the appellation, however, cannot well be avoided, I will state 
the meaning which I attach to it. 

By a liberal christian I understand one, who is disposed to 
receive as his brethren in Christ, all who in the judgment of 
charity, sincerely profess to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord 
and Master. He rejects all tests or standards of christian faith 
and of christian character, but the word of Jesus Christ and of 
his inspired apostles. He thinks it an act of disloyalty to his 
Master to introduce into the church creeds of fallible men as 
bonds of union, or terms of christian fellowship. He calls him- 
self by no name derived from human leaders, disclaims all exclu- 
sive connexion with any sect or party, professes himself a mem- 
ber of £he church universal on earth and in heaven, and cheery 
fully extends the hand of brotherhood to every man of every 
name who discovers the spirit of Jesus Christ. 

According to this view of liberal christians, they cannot be 
called a party. They are distinguished only by refusing to sepa- 
rate themselves in any form or degree from the great body of 
Christ. They are scattered too through all classes of Christians. 

5 



Si 

I have known Trinitarians and Calvinisls, who justly deserve 
the name of liberal, who regard with affection all who appear 
to follow Jesus Christ in temper and life, however they may 
differ on the common points of theological controversy. To this 
Class of christians, which is scattered over the earth, and which 
I trust has never been extinct in any age, I profess and desire 
to beloug. God send them prosperity. — In this part of the coun- 
try, liberal christians, as they have been above described, are 
generally, though by no means universallv, Unitarians in the 
proper sense of that word. It is of this part of them that I 
chiefly speak in this letter. 

I cannot forbear enforcing the sentiments of this note and of 
the letter by a passage from the venerable Baxter, as I find it 
quoted by Grove from the preface to the second part of " Saints' 
Everlasting Rest." 

" Two things have set the church on fire, and been the plagues 
of it above one thousand years; — 1st. Enlarging our creed, and 
making more fundamentals than ever God made- 2d. Compos- 
ing, and so imposing, our creeds and confessions in our own 
words and phrases. When men have learned more manners 
and humility than to accuse God's language as too general and 
obscure, as if they eould mend it — and have more dread of God 
and compassion on themselves, than to make those to be funda- 
mentals or certainties which God never made so; and when they 
reduce their confessions, 1st. to their due extent, and 2d. to scrip- 
ture phrases, that dissenters may not scruple subscribing — then, 
and I think never till then, shall the church have peace about doc- 
trinals. It seems to me no heinous Socinian notion which Chil- 
lingworth is blamed for, viz. Let all men believe the Scripture, 
and that only, and endeavour to believe it in the true sense, and 
promise this, and require no more cf others, and they shall find 
this not only a better, but the only means to suppress heresy 
And restore unity" 



35 



Note B, page 6. 

I have mentioned the name of Dr, Eckley, because his opin- 
ions on this subject were again and again expressed before me 
■with perfect frankness, and are stated with great distinctness in 
his letter to the Rev. Thomas Worcester of Salisbury, from which 
I subjoin an extract. 

" My plan, when I saw you, as I think I intimated, respecting th* 
Son of God, was very similar to what your brother* has now adopt* 
ed. The common plan of three self-existent persons forming one 
Essence or infinite Being, and one of these persons being united 
to a math, but not in the least humbling himself or suffering, com- 
pletely leads to and ends in Socinianism ; and though it claims 
the form of orthodoxy, it is a shadow without the substance ; it 
eludes inspection ; and I sometimes say to those who are strenu- 
ous for this doctrine, that they take away my Lord, and I know 
not where they place him." — "The orthodoxy, so called, of Wa- 
terland, is as repugnant to my reason and views of religion, as 
the heterodoxy of Lardner ; and I am at a loss to see that any 
solid satisfaction, for a person who wishes to find salvation 
through the death of the Son op God, can be found in either." — 
" I seek for a plan which exalts the personal character and attri- 
butes of the Son of God in the highest possible degree. The 
plan which your brother hath chosen does this — The scheme he 
has adopted affords light and comfort to the christian. I have 
long thought so ; and I continue to think I have not been m\& 
taken." 

* Rev. Noah Worcester, 



WELLS AND LILLY, 

(of boston) 

HAVE JUST PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE AT NO. 97 COURT STREET, 

An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of Saint 
Paul, by Hannah More. Two volumes in one, price in extra 
boards $i. 

SERMONS, chiefly on PARTICULAR OCCASIONS, by 
Archibald Alison, LL. B. Prebendary of Sarum, &c. &c. 
price $1, 62 1-2. 

For a high character of these eloquent discourees, see Edinburgh Review for Sep- 
tember, 1814. 

The Lord of the Isles, by Walter Scott, Esq. elegantly 
printed. $1. 

WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A *FEW DAYS, 

DISCIPLINE, a Novel, by the Author of .Self-Control, 
two volumes, 12m©. 



<rcc «c 
c C CO 

c c CC 



■7cc c # 



< 
cccc ccc 

cc ( ccc 
C C( c CCC 

g cYc S: 



< C c<- 

cc c c< 
CC ( c 
CC ( C 

CC CC< cc 
c«i c c 
CC < C C 

CC C C 

(CC- C C c< 



.cm. ' *A c *c ^c ■ 

ICC Cc C^(C > 

c«? «?.V« 
c c cc ' c *c « . - 
ccc C Crcc «" 

CCC cccc cc^ 
ccc cc cc *:c « 

t c: c « < <, * 

ccc c< < c c 
CCC CCc C CC 

< cc m: <_ «.< 

ccc cc c c 






ccc cc 



~s c c C < C «^< 

Cc CC C CCX 

CC ^ c CTCC £■£ 

cc ^CC Ccc CCC 

tC cc ccc. ccc 

cc i-flL.C.t< c c 

cccccccc CC 

cc c cc c cc c c 
^ cccc c. cc 

cc < C C C< CC 

< cc -C C • . c C C 

: cc c CCC CC 

c- « « c c c c c 

u <r cc cc 

- c, € C c cc C C 
; < , C C C C C 

: c ■ c C < C< 

^ c<CC' 

- c {, C CI CC 

*— < . c «.- c C 

c CCC Cc 



cc . CC^ <! CCCC <x c « 

^ -c £ 2 " ^> ^ ^/ / 

CC c C C <S cccc CCCC 

CC c -C C < ■ ^S 

CC C(CC< I < ■ c« 

CC c C C 6 <L C • CC 

CC cc CC« C< O 

cc c c c <*- < c c 



cC Cc C C« CCC 

or ccc - c c 

CC Cc C C C C 

cc c - c c Cc 

c < < C C C < 



<C ((<( 
,c < c C < 
c c C *C C 

<C C C <c c 

( c ( C c 

c CUCC 

< C C <« < 

( CC-'Cc 



ccc 

c < c 

CCC 

C c C 

C c c 

N. C c 
C C c 

c c, c 

c c C 

( « C 



C CC C C 

C C< c ' 

c ccc< 

c cc <r c 

c cc c c 
:c cc c < 

c cc c c 

:c cc « 
JC cc / < 

^ cc cc 

JC <<■ • 
C < <c 

' c( « < 

c cc 

: c< 

< Cc i 



c c C C< l ■ c < c ^ c c 

, C C C c c ^ ,. c C 

c c C c . < c 'jr < < c c 

C * C c ^ S ^ S ' ^ ^ 



( CCC 



cc c 

C CC c 



« c 

C< '^_ 



c 

c ccc 

«"* < < ». C I 

r. < C c 

c c 

I f ' '■ c c 

C c 
< c c 

Ccc < < C c 
Ccc C 

Ccc < 

: < ' < « 

c <: 

C c ' c < 

C < ' < 

cc < < 
CC < 

CC < 

=t c* 

CCCC 



«Cc c* 
^ , (C 

. 4Cc *cc 



C< cc 

<< c « 
CC <C C 

cc CC C 

« < ' «. c • 
<< ^C< 
CC 'C< 

<.C ccc <C 
<c r cc 






C C 

c 



< * 


c< « 


c * 


< « 


.< c c 


' * 


< c* 


.trc . 


1 * 


c d^ 


.< * 


c < 








< " 


« < 




i Ct 


.< c 


' < 


C< 


■C ' 




<< 


<< ' 




<< 


'< < 




. « * 


> « > 




< << 


'< < 




< c< 


•< i 


< 


, < < 


<« ■ 




c c 


C < * 




c < « 


c 


" 


c « 


<c- 


' 


• c « 


<< 


' < 


< « 


• s 





•,•/. 



e cc 

c c C 



r < < 

. C < C c 

. <r r c 
c c c 

C C I 



jiHed using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: May 2006 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 
1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 



r c 



■■coc 


<c^ 


' CCC 


<c«c 


<<£! ' 


<T<: 


^ ct ■ 


l£^ 


<ocv 


<& 


(TO 


oc 


cc 


«c 


ceo. 


CX£ 


' r<*£ 


«i 


'< ccc 


cc 


ccc 


* «: 


C CCC 


C<2 


OCT 


■«3 


C«L 


«r 



:*££&£ 
« 



^2«^G 



m«^<l 



c <? 


: Q<4 


£3 Ci«U « 


C 'C< 




ccc 


<L cc 


c<GEi 


c CCC 


-c 


5S OGC 


~S*S4£& 


Cxf 


oo 


C_CXL< 


<r 


C" c<3T_ 


cvC '<agj: 


c •:< 


^-.ccrc 


c *JSJ 


<L 


a .-cSLc 


:c,ccl 


XT-f ■■< 


j - cv'-.'-ccr 


ci C ...C;5 






jARY OF CONG] 

016 137 5! 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

iiiiiiuiiii iiifi. 

029 557 363 6 



